Top 20 NBA Free Agents Available Right Now
The NBA is past its March 1 deadline for playoff eligibility. Any players waived after March 1 can still join another team, but they cannot participate in postseason games.
A few quality veterans were recently released and could provide experienced reinforcements for contenders. With the G League season underway, several quality prospects will be called up on 10-day contracts, signed to two-way deals or added on standard contracts.
The following is a list of the top available free agents who may find roster spots before the end of the regular season.
20. Stanley Umude
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Umude went to training camp with the San Antonio Spurs, joining the G League Austin Spurs until a December call-up to a two-way. After making just two brief appearances on a stacked roster, Umude was waived in late February.
But in the G League, Umude has contributed a steady 18.4 points per game for the Austin squad, along with the willingness to use his length defensively. Where he needs to improve most is with his outside shot, at 32.9 percent from three.
While shooting and scoring are more likely to catch the eye, some NBA call-ups have more to do with a prospect's ability to defend and fill a role, and Umude may find another opportunity at the NBA level before the end of the year.
19. Josh Christopher
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Christopher was drafted No. 24 in 2021 by the Houston Rockets, but after a couple of seasons, he was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies, waived, and eventually signed to two-way contracts with the Utah Jazz and Miami Heat.
Over 152 games, Christopher struggled to shoot the ball at the NBA level. Still just 24, he's shown improvement with the Sioux Falls Skyforce. He's averaging 22.1 points per game, hitting a respectable 35.4 percent from three on 7.1 attempts per game.
While Christopher, with four years of NBA experience, is no longer eligible for a two-way contract, he might be worth a look for a lottery-bound team.
18. Miles Kelly
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Kelly went undrafted out of Auburn in June, quickly agreeing to a two-way contract with the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavs let him go in late February; the 23-year-old wing didn't do much in the very brief time coach Jason Kidd gave him (14 appearances, 9.6 minutes per game).
Still, Kelly was much better in his 32.5 minutes per night (26 games) with the Texas Legends, averaging 20 points and shooting 37.4 percent from three. He could be a late two-way signing (deadline March 4) or an option for a team looking for prospects to develop.
17. Alondes Williams
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Williams has played for four teams since coming into the NBA as an undrafted free agent in 2022. After stops with the Brooklyn Nets, Miami Heat, and Detroit Pistons, Williams recently signed a 10-day contract with the Washington Wizards.
At 26, he has a little more experience, which was on display while playing for the Capital City Go-Go. Through 25 games, Williams has averaged 21.2 points, hitting 38.3 percent from three on 7.3 attempts.
16. Zhaire Smith
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Just because a player is drafted in the first round doesn't mean they're immediately ready for the NBA. Smith was selected as No. 16 in 2018 by the Phoenix Suns (on behalf of the Philadelphia 76ers). Smith was traded by the 76ers two years later to the Detroit Pistons, who waived him a week later.
Now 26, Smith has provided steady offensive production for the G League's Oklahoma City Blue (affiliated with the Thunder) after starting the year with the Texas Legends. Through 24 games since the trade, Smith is averaging 21.1 points with 5.3 assists per game, while shooting 43.3 percent from three-point range.
Smith's NBA experience is a plus for a team seeking bench scoring.
15. Bryce Thompson
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Undrafted in June out of Oklahoma State, Thompson is a 23-year-old, 6'5" shooting guard. After very brief stints with the Austin Spurs and Valley Suns, Thompson has found a home with the Oklahoma City Blue, providing 22 points a game on 53 percent shooting from the field and 41.7 percent from three.
Thompson hit a career-high 41 points in a win over the Santa Cruz Warriors in early February, which should have caught the eyes of NBA scouts.
14. Daishen Nix
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Nix went undrafted in 2021 and played 99 games over four seasons with the Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves.
Currently on the Rio Grande Valley Vipers (Houston's affiliate), he's put up impressive numbers at 22.8 points, 7.09 assists, and 2.2 steals per game.
While his three-point shooting isn't spectacular (34.6 percent on 7.2 attempts), he's clearly improved on his greatest weakness, with a reasonable percentage given the volume. Nix, 23, played for Team White in the NBA G League Next Up Game at All-Star Weekend.
13. RJ Davis
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Davis, 24, was named NBA G League Player of the Week through February 1 for his play with the South Bay Lakers. He also played for Team White in the G League Next Up Game.
Undrafted in June, the North Carolina point guard has averaged 18.2 points and 5.1 assists for South Bay, shooting an efficient 40.4 percent from three on 6.5 attempts per contest.
12. Kennedy Chandler
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The San Antonio Spurs drafted Chandler in 2022 (No. 38) on behalf of the Memphis Grizzlies, but Memphis, dealing with frontcourt injuries, waived him almost a year later.
The 23-year-old spent the next two seasons with the Raptors 905 and the Long Island Nets before his current role (nearly full circle) with the Memphis Hustle.
A top playmaker, averaging 16.6 points and 9.7 assists per game, Chandler played for Team Red in the G League Next Up Game. He hasn't shot the ball well from three this season (29.3 percent), but he hit roughly 36 percent over the last two seasons.
11. Sean East II
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After going undrafted in 2024, East played overseas for CSM Constanta (Romania) and Edmonton Stingers (Canada). He caught the eye of the Utah Jazz, who picked him up for the Salt Lake Stars, where he's averaged 18.8 points and 5.5 assists per game.
East, 26, played for Team Blue in the G League Next Up Game. The 6'3" combo guard is shooting 40.4 percent from three on 4.3 attempts nightly.
10. Kevin Knox II
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Knox was a New York Knicks' lottery pick in 2018 (No. 9), but he didn't pan out with the team. He was traded in 2022 to the Atlanta Hawks, as part of one of three trades (the other two were to the Portland Trail Blazers and the Utah Jazz). He last played for the Golden State Warriors late in the 2024-25 season.
Still just 26, Knox has good height (6'8") but struggled to space the floor over his seven seasons in the league. He's improved tremendously this season with the Windy City Bulls, shooting 42.7 percent on 7.3 attempts per game and averaging 21.5 points. He could get another NBA shot on a 10-day contract.
9. Lester Quiñones
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Undrafted in 2022, Quiñones spent some of two seasons with the Golden State Warriors, splitting time last season with the New Orleans Pelicans and Philadelphia 76ers. He joined the Osceola Magic this year, where he's been a consistent offensive force.
Through 38 games, Quiñones has averaged 22.4 points per game, 5.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game, shooting 40.1 percent from three (significantly better than last year's 33.1 percent in the G League). At 25, Quiñones should get another chance to play for an NBA squad before the end of the 2025-26 campaign. He recently joined Team Red for the G League Next Up Game.
8. DaQuan Jeffries
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One of the more experienced players in the G League, Jeffries wasn't drafted out of Tulsa in 2019. Still, he has six years of service with multiple teams (Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, New York Knicks and Charlotte Hornets).
The 6'5" forward is a willing defender, still just 28, and has averaged 20.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals with the Stockton Kings (shooting 41.7 percent from three).
7. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
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Robinson-Earl, the No. 32 pick in 2021 of the New York Knicks (traded on draft day to the Oklahoma City Thunder), played 22 games total for the Indiana Pacers and Dallas Mavericks this season on 10-day contracts, averaging 4.6 points and 4.7 rebounds in 16.5 minutes a game.
While he didn't shoot well, both teams have struggled this year with injuries, and neither may be the ideal place for a player like Robinson-Earl to earn his way back into the league. Still, he's only 25 and a strong, physical 240-pound forward with NBA-level talent. A better team in need of experienced help may give him a look before the end of the season.
6. Tony Bradley
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Bradley, 28, is a solid, physical 6'10" center who can fill minutes for a team needing big-man depth. He's been in the NBA since he was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers for the Utah Jazz with the No. 28 pick in 2017.
The Indiana Pacers signed Bradley last year to bolster their frontcourt for the postseason run. The franchise cut him before his salary was guaranteed for the rest of the 2025-26 season, bringing him back on a pair of 10-day contracts—but then acquired center Ivica Zubac from the LA Clippers at the deadline.
5. Chris Boucher
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After spending nearly his entire career with the Toronto Raptors (including the championship year in 2018-19), Boucher left before the season as a free agent to join the Boston Celtics. The pairing wasn't a match; Boucher played in just nine games, shooting 13.3 percent from three-point range.
That's a massive drop from the 10 points a game he gave Toronto last year, shooting a reasonable 36.3 percent from three. At 6'8", Boucher is more of a scoring wing than a frontcourt big. He earned his early minutes with incessant energy, but at 33, he's slowed a bit. Still, he could provide experience and end-of-rotation minutes for a playoff team.
4. Dalano Banton
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Banton was selected at No. 46 in 2021 by the Toronto Raptors. After a couple of years, he signed with the Boston Celtics, who later traded him to the Portland Trail Blazers. Without a team locked in to start the season, Banton played for the Texas Legends (the Dallas Mavericks' affiliate) before signing a couple of 10-day contracts (LA Clippers, Celtics).
Banton could return to the Celtics, who are managing their tight payroll below the luxury-tax threshold or join another franchise as a long 6'8" point-forward. Through 32 games with the Legends, Banton has averaged 24.2 points and 6.7 assists.
3. Eric Gordon
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Gordon has been sidelined with wrist issues, but is believed to be healthy. The Sixers chose to get out of the luxury tax, sending him to the Memphis Grizzlies before the deadline.
However, Memphis cut him loose, putting the 37-year-old veteran guard into free agency.
Just last year, Gordon gave the 76ers 19.7 minutes a game, shooting 40.9 percent from three-point range. He's an experienced playoff veteran who may not be ready to call it a career just yet.
2. Cole Anthony
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The Orlando Magic drafted Anthony in 2020 with the No. 15 pick and extended him in 2023, but his salary was needed in June's Desmond Bane trade with the Memphis Grizzlies (who placed him on waivers soon after). Anthony signed a minimum deal with the Milwaukee Bucks, but was later dealt to the Phoenix Suns (who recently let him go ahead of the March 1 deadline).
At 25, Anthony is well-traveled. He's a capable scorer when given free rein, but few NBA teams will have that kind of role available. Still, with injuries and those with generally weak backcourts, Anthony might be a spark plug.
1. Lonzo Ball
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The Cleveland Cavaliers still have the most expensive roster in the NBA, but before the trade deadline, the team was struggling for consistency. The team made the bold move of trading starting point guard Darius Garland for James Harden. Cleveland also chose to get off of Ball's salary, trading him to the Utah Jazz, who cut him soon after.
Ball had a tremendous comeback story with the Chicago Bulls last year, recovering from years' worth of knee injuries. When healthy, he's an electric defender and offensive accelerant. With the Bulls, he shot a reasonable 34.4 percent from three-point range. In Cleveland this year, however, that plummeted to 27.2 percent.
While he's not an everyday player (back-to-backs are prohibitive), Ball can help a team that needs an unselfish role player dedicated to contributing on defense and moving the basketball to teammates in scoring position.
Others
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Malik Beasley is arguably the best available NBA free agent, proving himself last year in a key role as a bench shooter for the Detroit Pistons. He can space the floor as well as almost anyone in the league. However, non-basketball factors make it unclear whether he will return to the NBA this season—leading him to sign with the Bad Bunny's Santurce Crabbers in Puerto Rico (buyout eligibility TBD).
Other interesting G League performers to keep an eye on include David Roddy, Chris Youngblood, Skal Labissiere, Jules Bernard, Charles Bassey, Lawson Lovering, Kadary Richmond, Damion Baugh, Chris Livingston, and many others.
Some were recently cut, such as Orlando Robinson, Javonte Cooke, Buddy Boeheim, Dario Šarić, Malaki Branham, Nikola Đurišić, Georges Niang, and Dante Exum. However, Exum is out with an injury (Niang is closer to health)—other veterans like Ben Simmons, Alec Burks, Garrison Mathews, James Wiseman, Dennis Smith Jr., and Cody Martin have yet to surface (or are trying to work their way back through the G League). Some have recently signed 10-day contracts and could be returning to free agency shortly, including Mo Bamba, Rayan Rupert, Killian Hayes and Grant Nelson.
Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on X @EricPincus and Bluesky.
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